Mode of converting the backs of car-seats into beds or lounges



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. H. B. MYER.

Car Seat'and Couch.

No. 11,699. Patented Sept 19,1854.

Witnesses Inventor: WMfl/% J 9. r

2 Sheets Sheet 2.-

H. B. MYER. 9

Car Seat and Couch.

PatentedSept. 19, 1854.

Inventor:

Witnesses= UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY B. MYER, oF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MODE OF CONVERTING THE BACKS 0F CAR-SEATS INTO BEDS OR LOUNGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. [1,699, dated September19,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY B. MYER, of the city of Buffalo, in the countyof Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and improved mode ofconverting the seats and backs of railroad-car seats such as arecommonly used into beds or lounges for the purpose of sleeping orresting; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full andexact-description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in raising the backs of the seats toa horizontal position without detaching them from the frame of theseats, and fastening them there by means of the slides or bolts attachedto the frame of the seats or sides of the car, or by cords or wiresattached to the roof of the car, or otherwise, and byopening orextending the cushions of the seats, or the articles used therefor, byopening on a hinge attached thereto, or by the best mode of constructingthe same, thereby forming two rows or ranges of beds or lounges, oneabove on the back of the seats, and one below on the cushions, orarticles belonging to or used for the seats, said backs and cushions orarticles to be so upholstered as, when properly placed, to afford alevel and suitable surface. i

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use inyinvention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

The backs of the seats are to be constructed in such proportion to eachother and to the distances by which the seats in the car are separatedthat when they are raised to or fastened in a horizontal position (bymeans hereinafter described) the backs of any two or more contiguousseats will meet their uppersnri'aces, forming a continuous andhorizontal plane.- I turn up the backs of the seats I I, Figure 1, soconstructed to a horizontal position, as at I I, Fig. 2, and retain themthere by means of the slides or bars, as a a a a, Fig. 2, attached tothe frames of the seats by raising them to the proper height, and soturning them that their interior extremities may rest upon thestandards, as b I) b b, Fig. 2, placed in the frames of the seats K K,Fig. 2, for that purpose, or by fastening those sides of the backs, as II, Fig. I, adjoining thesidc ot' the car L L, Fig.1, by bars or catches,as g g g 1 Fig. 1, attached to the sides of the car, or by bolting thebacks I I, Fig. 2, together by means of the bolts, as e c c c, Fig. 2,or by using cords or wires, as It h, Fig. 2, attached to the roof ofthecar, or by such other mode as may best answer the purpose intended.

The cushions of the seats, or the articles used therefor, are also to beso constructed and proportioned to each other and the distances by whichthe seats in the car are separated that when they are opened or extendedand retained in their proper position (by means hereinafter described)upholstered surfaces of the cushion, or articles used therefor, of anytwo or more contiguous seats will meet, forming a continuous andhorizontal plane. I open and extend these cushions of the seats, orarticles used therefor, which are upholstered on two sides, and fittedwith hinges d d d (Z, after the manner ot' the cushion marked E, byraising them up and turning out the lower half, which will then extendto the frame of the next seat, on which it rests by shoving out twobolts placed in the frame of the cushion for that purpose, or by openingthecushions, or articles used therefor, which are upholstered and fittedas represented-in the seat marked f, or by such other mode as may bebest adapted for the formation of lounges or beds.

I form by my plan two ranges of beds or lounges, one placed above theother, extendin g, it necessary, the whole length of the railroad-car orthe passengers occupying any two seats may, at their option, converttheir seats into beds capable of accommodating them in I a lyingposition without incommodiug the other passengers in the least. -It isintended that persons occupying the beds or lounges shou d lielengthwise of the car.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The construction orformation of beds or lounges on the backs ofrailroad-car seats by turning them up to and retaining them in ahorizontal position, and so arranging the backs of contiguous seats thatthey may meet and remain in the same horizontal plane bythe methodsherein described, or by any other sub stantially the same, and whichwill answer the intended purpose.

WM. 13. CIIAMBERLIN, H. O. HOLMAN.

